Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești

Bishop Varlaam urges faithful to restore their bond of love with God the Father ahead of Lent

“May the good God grant us the wisdom that leads us back to Christ, and help us use the time of Great Lent with discernment, so that the feast of Pascha may truly become, for each of us, a return to the boundless love of our Heavenly Father,” said Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești…

Feb 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Last memorial service for 16 Romanian Holy Women: Holiness is open to every Christian, Bishop says

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiesti on Thursday evening officiated the final memorial service for the 16 newly canonised Romanian holy women, stressing that “holiness is accessible to every Christian who desires it and seeks it at any time”. The service was held at the Patriarchal Cathedral and was preceded by Great Vespers. Bishop Varlaam…

Feb 7, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Pray to Saint Menas to regain lost faith, Bishop Varlaam urges on feast day

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, general secretary of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, urged the faithful on Tuesday to pray to Saint Menas for the recovery of lost or weakened faith, during celebrations dedicated to the saint known for helping believers find lost objects. “First of all,” said Bishop Varlaam, “let…

Nov 12, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Synod secretary receives Armenian Church honour during Cathedral Jubilee

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, the Holy Synod’s general secretary, received on Sunday the Archangels Michael and Gabriel Medal from the Armenian Church Diocese in Romania. The distinction was presented by Bishop Datev Hagopian, Head of the Armenian Archdiocese in Romania, during the reconsecration of the Armenian Cathedral of the Holy Archangels Michael and…

Nov 11, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian President Nicușor Dan attends patronal feast of Cotroceni Palace Church

The Cotroceni Palace Church celebrated its patronal feast on Tuesday, honouring the Holy Great Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus. Among those attending the celebration was Romanian President Nicușor Dan. On this occasion, the President congratulated the clergy and community members, expressing appreciation for those who have contributed to preserving and revitalising the church within the Cotroceni…

Oct 8, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Varlaam: Christ’s command to love our enemies opens the path to true happiness

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești said on Sunday at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest that Christ’s command to love one’s enemies opens the way to “true happiness, which is not measured by material gain but by peace and joy of the heart.” In his homily, Bishop Varlaam explained that this commandment lifts believers above…

Oct 6, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Vigil service for Saint Sofian of Antim. Bishop Varlaam: God has blessed us with a Saint from our times

On Monday evening, His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești officiated the all-night vigil for Saint Sofian the Confessor of Antim, ahead of the local proclamation of his canonisation. In his homily, Bishop Varlaam emphasised the joy of honouring “a saint from our own days,” known personally to many faithful in Bucharest and beyond.…

Sep 16, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești urges students to seek spiritual growth at start of school year

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Sunday at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, where he spoke to the faithful about the Gospel of the rich young man, who, after his encounter with Christ, became His disciple. “It is no coincidence that today’s Gospel is read at the beginning of the…

Sep 2, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Varlaam and Prior Sabino Chialà reaffirm Orthodox–Catholic ties in Bucharest

On Thursday, May 15, 2025, His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești,  Secretary of the Holy Synod, received Brother Sabino Chialà, Prior of the Roman Catholic Monastery of Bose (Italy), in an audience at the Patriarchal Palace in Bucharest. During their discussions, Bishop Varlaam emphasized the long-standing cooperation between the Romanian Patriarchate and the…

May 15, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Saint George named Patron of Liver Transplantation in Romania during National Transplant Day ceremony

Saint George the Great Martyr was named the patron of liver transplantation in Romania during an event held at the Library of the Romanian Academy on April 11. The saint was chosen because the first two liver transplant recipients in Romania were both named Gheorghe (George). The patriarchal decree was read during the National Transplant…

Apr 28, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Diplomatic and religious dialogue: Bishop Varlaam meets Georgian Ambassador in Bucharest

On Wednesday, His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, Secretary of the Holy Synod, welcomed Her Excellency Tamar Beruchashvili, Ambassador of Georgia to Romania, at the Patriarchal Palace in Bucharest. Bishop Varlaam extended a warm welcome to the ambassador, emphasizing the strong and long-standing friendship between the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Georgian Orthodox…

Mar 5, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu